This one tells us much about Gurdjieff, and by the way, much about the kind of student he attracted, people like Bennett--who might be one of the most gullible men who ever lived (he was later duped out of his estate by some other even more phony guru, as documented in Madam Blavatsky's Baboon). For all his brilliance, even in old age G. was very crafty, manipulative and superstitious, as revealed here (he thought the caves at Lascaux were painted by Atlanteans!). Also, the quality of the Bennetts' writing really sets this apart from some other books in the genre; it is compulsively readable.

Kuh, Schuh, Whitt, and Associates have really developed a a fantastic resource manual. I call it a resource manual in the fact that when I need something to back up my views, opinions, reasoning, etc., I can often turn to this book and find the justification that I need. Not only is it thoroughly research-based, but it provides the type of inspiring information that many of us in higher education look for from time to time.

It might have a shortcoming in that the group only used fourteen institutions in their study, but they openly admit their procedures and appreciate the fact that their scope could be considered somewhat limited. However, their conclusions and recommendations are such that they need not be institution specific. They challenge colleges and universities to not only create a mission, but to strive to meet that mission on a continuum...for it to permeate the scope of the institution from the admissions process, through campus life, and on into alumni programming.

For those truly intrigued with higher education (and especially its outcomes), this is an easy read. The picture that they paint for the "involved college" is somewhat utopian, but I argue that is what makes the book so inspiring. We should all hope to work for and/or attend an institution that can set such high goals not only for its academic curriculum, but for the community of learning that it fosters.

Anyone involved with the lives of college students can't afford to miss out on this book.

This book was entertaining as well as historically enlightening. It provides the reader with an interseting look at see the "politics" at work in the midst of what oftentimes seems to us as a cut-and-dried period in our Nation's history. It certainly adds dimension to the reader's perception of that era.

Excellent study guide to go along with book of same title- filled with scripture and application- It is fresh and something you want to share with all your friends! I highly recommend it and wouldn't recommend the book without it, you would miss half of the scripture/application. Easy reading and great for group or personal study- I am doing it by myself first and then wish to do it in a group study- it would have great discussion and sharing of ideas!

The myths of the Wichita are a mythic interpretation of the Place where the present-day city of Wichita stands, but they also are an important link to the world-wide mythologies of ancient times. They both offer an insight into the spiritual meaning of this Place, and have the potential for helping mythographers to understand where Native American myths fit into the larger picture of ancient culture. The ethnographer, Dorsey, has a genuine understanding of the Wichita and of the need to transmit their legends accurately and with a cultural context.

I am always seeking books that include a wide range of psychometric instruments that can be used to instruct students regarding concepts such as reliability and validity. In addition, I prefer to use psychometric instruments that appear to have some practical application for our graduates.

THE PRACTITIONER'S GUIDE TO EMPIRICALLY BASED MEASURES OF DEPRESSION includes a description of the psychometric qualities of 94 scales of depression. These 94 scales fit into one of three categories that include:

Measures of depression, depressive symptomatology, and depressive moods
Measures of depression for special populations
Measures of depression-related constructs

The wide variety of methods for assessing the degree of depression is nothing less than overwhelming. In addressing each instrument, the authors use the following outline:

Original Citation
Purpose
Description
Background
Administration
Scoring
Interpretation
Psychometric Properties (Norms, Reliability, and Validity)
Clinical Utility
Research Applicability
Source
Cost
Alternative Forms

The consistency of this outline is quite helpful in reviewing these instruments when students are first learning about test construction. In addition, the authors have included reprints of 24 instruments meant to measure depression. These reproductions are extremely helpful for students who are first learning about test construction.

In addition to being a wonderful tool to learn the basic of instrument construction, THE PRACTITIONER'S GUIDE TO EMPIRICALLY BASED MEASURES OF DEPRESSION is an equally beneficial tool for the practitioner and the researcher. In fact, I suspect that the author's primary intended audience is practitioners. Regardless, this is a wonderful volume that will be a great benefit to many.

As a side note, the publisher Kluwer Academic/Plenum has produced a similar book entitled, THE PRACTITIONER'S GUIDE TO EMPIRICALLY BASED MEASURES OF ANXIETY. It too, is an excellent volume.

When Americans think about war refugees, we typically think of people made homeless due to conflicts fought on foreign soil. We tend to forget about the thousands of southerners driven from their homes during the War Between the States. Mary Elizabeth Massey's "Refugee Life in the Confederacy" describes the experience of southern refugees in fascinating detail.

While diarists provide wonderful detail about their individual lives, and to a certain extent, the lives of others they encountered, Massey's book creates a comprehensive "big picture." Massey makes a key point that one cannot rely on the experiences one or two persons to generalize about the typical refugee experience. "[T]here was no 'average' refugee. A person's financial situation, personal contacts, place of refugee, ingenuity, adjustability to changing conditions, and his good fortune or lack of it combined to make each refugee's circumstances distinctive," she notes.

For instance, the ability to find continue one's chosen field of work in a new locale varied greatly depending on profession: Teachers often could make a planned departure to a new school while college professors more often found themselves out of work as their institutions closed. Doctors and herbalists were in high demand wherever they went while lawyers had to resort to a different line of work unless they managed to transport their law library. Some journalists, often targeted by Union forces for publicly airing their views, managed to continue printing from new sites.

Massey's work, originally published in 1964, relies on a wide variety of diaries, letters and other first-hand accounts. She addresses refugee conditions in all the states of the Confederacy, not just the ones that typically receive the most attention due to more famous battles occurring on their soil. She does not discuss refugees in Maryland and Pennsylvania who fled during the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, but does briefly mention pro-Union refugees who left home due to conflicts with neighbors over their allegiance.

Throughout the book, her writing style remains interesting and somewhat dramatic. Massey interweaves a broad variety of first-hand accounts into her analysis, adding further interest to her topic. Period illustrations from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper and Harper's Weekly further dramatize the plight of the displaced.

"Refugee Life" begins with a brief overview of the some major events in the war that led persons to leave their homes, either temporarily or for the duration. Massey then turns to factors that led persons to decide to become refugees: scare stories about what the Union Army would do, letters from husbands and sons at war urging their wives and mothers to move to a safer place, newspaper editorials, avoiding conscription, becoming stranded after a visit to a military camp, and the desire to protect men of fighting age, including soldiers on leave, as Union forces drew near.

She argues that elite classes were more likely to become refugees than the poor for several reasons: 1) their political involvement would make them targets for Union retribution-and less willing to take the loyalty oath; 2) they more easily could afford to uproot; and 3) they had broader social contacts upon which they could draw. She notes, however, that refugeeing become a great social leveler. "After the first months it was difficult to distinguish between the classes and backgrounds of those displaced," she writes.

When civilians could make a planned departure, they might take wagons full of furniture with them, assuming they had the means to transport such a massive amount of belongings. Among the possessions that Massey describes being transported by refugees were pianos, kitchen stoves, livestock and pets, as well as other cherished furniture and household goods.

The chapters on deciding where to stay and what kind of accommodations and amenities might be available are fascinating. Massey analyzes the benefits of refugeeing to a city versus the country or a small village. She also describes the conflicts that arose when refugees stayed with extended family or had to deal with unhappy landlords. In an era where state loyalty ran high, refugees often were reluctant to leave their home states, even if few safe havens remained there, she says. As for the actual accommodations, Massey concludes that most refugees did not find what they were looking for, although different people tended to look for different things. Due to food shortages, as the war progressed, a room rarely included board. Cooking in one's room became common.

While refugees preferred a solid roof over their heads, even if that meant living in a carriage house, slave quarter or makeshift log cabin, Massey provides several examples of when refugees resided in tents, including tent cities around Petersburg, Atlanta and Fredericksburg. Tents might be constructed of blankets, quilts, and rugs.

Given the patriotic fervor of supporting the troops and making do during the blockade, one might assume that society was understanding of refugees. Not so, according to Massey. Newcomers did not receive a warm welcome, even at church, where they were asked to sit in the balcony rather than in the pews occupied by regular parishioners. Their children tended to be treated as outcasts at school. Until late in the war, fundraising efforts focused on aiding soldiers, not refugees. Massey concludes by describing the military policies of the North and South toward refugees, and efforts that ultimately were set up to provide aid.

The one drawback to "Refugee Life" is its organization. The topics of chapters are not readily available from their titles, which are quotes pulled from period documents. Fortunately, "Refugee Life" is well indexed, otherwise trying to find the section where daily life or treatment of border-state refugees was discussed would be quite time consuming. Another slight weakness in the organization is a certain amount of repetition. For instance, the chapter dealing with work opportunities goes over, albeit in greater detail, information already discussed in an earlier chapter on class distinctions.

This book of interviews with women writers, originally done for the Paris Review, is the finest book I have ever encountered on women writing or doing any committed creative work. There's really nothing like it out there. It is a prize in itself.

When I first received the book in my grade eight class, I thought, oh man, another book that will have no affect on me whatsover, etc etc. I was wrong. Though it took quite a few chapters to find out what the bronze bow was, I definitely feel that it's one of the best books I've read. The author, Elizabeth George Speare, portrayed the characters, especially Daniel, very, very well. I couldn't put the book down! Soon it didn't become just a reading homework assignment. While reviewing the book and making up questions, I found it very interesting, the way love was shown. Jesus' love was quite evident and I loved the way Daniel was drawn to Him. As a Christian, I belive Jesus was portrayed very well. The plot was good, new problems peaking around every corner, and Samson really touched my heart :). I recommend it for anyone my age to 90! Also, in the book it shows that love can overcome war and hate that Daniel has towards the Romans. Hate can try to bend a bow of bronze (taken from a psalm of David, this was there "password"), but love does a much better job. :)

Elizabeth George Speare only wrote four books that I'm aware of, and all but one were awarded a Newbery Award. (And the one that did not win an award, "Calico Captive," is one of my favorite books of all time!) Ms. Speare was quite simply a fantastic writer of historical fiction. Her books are written in a style suitable for young readers, but anybody who loves historical fiction will love her work regardless of age! It's such a shame that she did not write more books.

I admit that I had my reservations about "The Bronze Bow," since its setting in 1st century Judea seemed incongrous with Ms. Speare's other books which are all set in colonial New England. Also, although I'm a practicing Catholic, I was not keen on reading a fictional book with Jesus as a character fearing some very dry, preachy version of the most famous man in history would ruin the believability of the story. But my reservations were completly unfounded. Ms. Speare describes life in Roman occupied Judea with the same wonderful detail as she did colonial America. She ably describes the political/historical situation with great skill while weaving it into her fictional story of a young man deciding which path he will choose in life.

Daniel, the protagonist, is as three dimensional and believable as Kit Tyler in "The Witch of Blackbird Pond." In fact, all the characters are memorably brought to life especially Daniel's emotionally devastated, younger sister, Leah. However, the major surprise is Ms. Speare's portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth- what a wonderful depiction of that itinerate preacher. Jesus is a supporting but crucial character in the narrative, but Ms. Speare does not use him to preach to the reader. Instead, the reader, like Daniel, is left to decide who Jesus is- just a kind-hearted teacher? A miracle worker? Someone unwilling to take sides? The messiah? Daniel is puzzled by these questions because the Jesus he sees is just a human being and not a resurrected savior in glowing robes.

"The Bronze Bow" is arguably Ms. Speare's strongest novel, and that says alot considering her other work. It's historical fiction at its finest, and anyone who passes on it because of fears of it being "too religious" or "too preachy" are doing themselves a disservice. A great work of fiction is a great work fiction regardless if one of the characters happens to be Jesus of Nazareth.

I first read this book when I was in grade school, after reading and loving The Witch of Blackbird Pond by the same author, and it is still one of my favorites! The story of Daniel's struggle between his hatred of the Romans for what they did to his family and his attraction to Jesus and his teachings of love is beautifully told. The struggle is not an easy one; it is not obvious which side is going to win. Characters in this book are interesting and alive. A very engaging story.

When I first read the title of this book I thought I new I would never read it. I am not interested in reading anything concerning witches. But I was rong by judging this book by it's cover.
It is set in the late sixteen hundreds when Quakers were judged as being witches.
Kathrine (the mane character), is a sixteen year old girl who moves from her tropical island home after her Grandfather's death, to New England to live with her Aunt, Uncle and Cousins.
One day after having an argument with her Uncle (who did not want her living with them)Kathrine runs to a field and cries. She then meets the mysterious woman everyone claims is a witch. It turns out that the elderly woman, Hannah, is truly a God fearing, loving, kind woman who's husband had died a few years back.
Kit befriends Hannah and a little girl who's Mother thinks she is fulish and can't learn anything. Kathrine teaches the girl to read and write.
When a deadly sickness comes and kills several children and a few adults the people blame Hannah, saying she has cursed the land, and, having heared that she had been asociating with Hannah, blames Kathrine as well and burns down Hannah's house. Kit then helps Hannah escape with her friend, Nat, on a boat. Kit is caught and stands trial.
You must read the book to find out what happens to her.
There is no witchcraft or anything of the sort. It is a fun, historical book with, I wouldn't call it romance but a neat friendship between Kathrine and her friend, Nat.
So for those of you who,like me,were or are judging this book by it's cover, don't.
Though the book is a posative read I still do not like the cover. If Amazon had such a thing for their reviews I would have given it 4&1/2 stars.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a great historical fiction about a young lady named Kit who moves from her hometown of Barbados, England because are grandfather passed away. The only family she has left is in the New England colony of Connecticut. Kit makes her way to Wethersfield, Connecticut to find her new, hard-labored family, the Woods. There she worrks day and night, and gets aquainted with her once beautiful aunt Rachel, dour uncle Matthew, and two cousins, Judilyn (?) and Mercy. She runs towards Blackbird Pond when a dame school goes wrong, and meets the "witch," Hannah, who is not a witch at all. Hannah is the kindest person Kit has met in Wethersfield. She is a Quaker, and outlawed from all of Wethersfield. Kit is supposed to marry a rich man named William Ashby, but does not want to follow through with it. Now, there is a fuss about freedom and liberty with Andros and King James. This is all I have read so far, and it is already promising. I recommend this book already, so go ahead and read it.

If you have never read "The Witch of Blackbird Pond", don't be turned away by it's categorization as a Children's Book. It is not, in my opinion, only for children! I read this in 7th Grade, and to this day I will still pluck it off the shelf and re-read it every once in a while. I'm sure adults and children alike will enjoy this little book.

Kit, a young girl from Barbados, is on her way to America to live with her Aunt and her Uncle after her beloved Grandfather dies. However, Kit does not fit in well at all (I find myself sympathizing with the outcast type of character) because she has fancy clothing, she can swim, and she likes to read books other than the bible. This is all very strange to the people in Puritan New England, and what is even stranger to them is her friendship with the "Witch" of Blackbird Pond. But things get worse when the children of the town begin to get sick, and she herself is called a witch! Something for everyone, even Romance! I highly recommend this book to anyone.